Ph,alk,cal help ??????

Hi everyone,
ok my problem is that it seems my ph is low. i am useing red sea ph alk test and salifert strontium,calcium test.

the ph is reading 8.0 I have been told i should raise it to 8.2-8.4?
the alk reads normal on color card i think its 1.5-2.5 it in the middle of color chart it says normal.

Cal is 480 ppm

nitrates 0-5ppm
ammo 0, nitrite o, temp 76-77, mag 1350

i have tried to raise ph with seachem buffer it raises for about a day and goes back to the grey , purple color. grey in floresent light and purple in normal light bulbs. I am confused with the readings a little.
why would the ph go back to the normal 8.0 color/grey after a day.
is my system ok or should i keep on trying to adjust.
my tank is a year old and I have 34 gal salona w 2 maroon clowns 1 pajama cardnal. no corals yet I am worried they will not thrive if the perams are not right.
also these readings have been consistant for a year cal is normal 450ppm.
I do 20 % water change a week. my tank has alot of evap like 2-3 cups a day. should i add buffer to the fresh water for top off.

could someone let me know if I am ok or do I need to raise my ph???
I read that consistancy is better than the numbers being on the money?
I want lps and soft corals I just ordered $200 in frags. I dont want to kill anything.

 

Oh yeh my coraline algea was growing really good and since I tried to raise the ph the top line of coraline on my tanks backing has turned white not all of it but just a small line of white that used to be pink/purple.

 

Whats the expiry of your test kit? Do you use a protein skimmer? What type of substrate are you using and how deep is it? What units are your alk in; dKH, mg/L as CaCO3?

 

the kits are good alk is meq/l I use a protien skimmer.And the sub is agro carib sea

 

Your alk seems good, good substrate which can affect alk.

pH will fluctuate during the day and night, when are you measuring your pH? In the morning your pH can be lower due to reverse photosythesis whilst the lights are out.
Fluctuations between 8.0-8.2 in a reef tank is quite normal. So from your original post your parameters are good IMO.

 

How long as your tank been set up for?

As long as you're using a good salt mix and your magnesium, calcium and alk are within parameters and your tank is in a well ventilated place; there shouldn't be a problem with pH.

A low pH can be caused by a big/imbalance in bioload this will cause high amounts of organic material and your protein skimmer might not cope with the respiration from bacterial biomass etc. Reading your first post, this isn't the case and your tanks parameters IMO are fine.